Washing socks

ABSTRACT

A combination and a method for keeping the individual members of a pair of socks together during repeated laundering or storage employing a button on a locally reinforced portion of one sock of a pair of socks and a locally reinforced elasticized opening in the other sock in the pair of socks, the opening adapted to receive and secure the button.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to means and a method for attaching and maintaining the individual members of a pair of socks together especially during laundering and storing.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

Over the years many patents have been issued covering means for attaching socks together so they will remain paired during laundering and retrieved in that condition when the wash cycle is complete. Without such means it is commonplace to lose one sock out of a pair of socks during laundering. In addition it is time consuming and difficult to match socks after washing and storage especially when the socks from different pairs look a lot alike.

In the past many attempts have been made to solve this problem using clips, pins, buttons and other mechanical fastening devices. A recent search of the prior art revealed the following list of patents and published patent applications covering means for solving this problem: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,785,413; 3,774,267; 5,038,413; 5,530,998; 5,740,558; 5,944,236; 6,038,748; 6,216,279; 6,237,200; 6,588,633; 6,990,694; 20060123606; 20080201910; 20080276433; and 20110209268. While some of the foregoing disclose a button on one sock and a button hole on the other paired sock as a means for holding the socks together during laundering, they do not disclose a locally reinforced elastic opening to serve as a button hole or a button attached to a reinforced elastic portion of a sock. These are the critical features of the present invention since they individually and collectively provide more secure means for holding socks together as demonstrated by repeated laundering and do so in a convenient, attractive and economical way to accomplish the desired results.

Messman U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,558, containing a good analysis of the merits and demerits of even more patented inventions that address this problem, is incorporated herein by reference. Messman employs two flexible strips of fabric sewn onto the edges of a pair of socks at one end and fastened together at the other end with a fastening device that he believes overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a simple, secure device for fastening socks together in a manner that prevents damage to the socks during laundering without introducing tension loads to the fastening means thereby achieving enhanced performance of the fastening means without distorting the shape of the sock or introducing a stress concentration that promotes destruction of the sock's fabric. He claims they secure the socks together in a manner that allows the user to separate the socks easily while providing high holding strength using a few unobtrusive materials. However adding unsightly appendages, that can be annoying and irritating to the wearer, still imparts stress to the socks at the place of attachment and therefore does not accomplish all of the results claimed by Messman.

Cook U.S. Pat. No. 2,785,413 discloses spaced embroidered button holes machined into the elastic cuff of a sock but the holes are used to thread an elastic band around the cuff of the sock, the band also being used to attach pairs of socks together. Buttons are not employed to hold socks together.

Ursian U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,413 discloses a button on one sock and a hole on the other sock for fastening two socks together but the button hole is not locally reinforced and elastic enough to withstand repeated washing without materially stressing the socks.

While it could be argued that the Cook and Ursian disclosures of an elastic button hole in Cook and a button hole paired with a button in Ursian could be combined to suggest the present invention, there is no basis for combining the two disclosures. There is no teaching in those patents or the above collection of references that a locally reinforced and elastic button hole or attachment site for the button would be a superior basis for holding socks together after many launderings in the harsh conditions present during washing in automatic washing machines. In fact Ursian only claims “snap type fasteners” and not a button and a button hole leading away from a suggestion that a button and a button hole would work as well as or better than snap fasteners. Instead of suggesting applicant's invention the prior art taken together employs much more elaborate, unsightly, inconvenient, uncomfortable and expensive means for achieving what they allege to be superior means for achieving allegedly comparable results to applicant's invention. A merely elastic but unreinforced button hole or attachment site for a button is not sufficient to withstand repeated washing and would in any event create more stress to and distortion of a sock.

By “locally reinforced elasticity” applicant means elasticity beyond that normally found in socks, usually found maximally in the cuff of socks. Elasticity sufficient to withstand the stress imparted by a given type of washing machine to a specific pair of socks, which can vary in composition, can be determined experimentally or by using Young's modulus of elasticity. By the word “button” applicant means a small knob or disk that is secured to a sock in the product of the present invention and is used as a fastener by pressing through a button hole.

A recent U.S. Patent Application 20110209268 published Sep. 1, 2011 disclosed “tags” affixed near the top edges of a pair of socks without any indication of their composition or the means of attachment to socks. One tag includes a button and the other includes a button hole. Elasticity is not disclosed, much less reinforced elasticity, the principal feature of the present invention, leading to reduced stress on the socks and greater security in keeping the socks attached, both imparted by reinforced elasticity.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention offers some of the same advantages claimed by Messman '558 without unsightly and annoying appendages while being comfortable and even attractive to the user. It includes a locally reinforced and elastic opening near but below the top of one sock of a pair of socks and a button attached to a locally reinforced elastic portion near the top or in the cuff of the other sock of the pair of socks. The size of the opening when relaxed is smaller than the diameter of the button but expands easily enough to allow the button to pass through the expanded opening.

In one embodiment the locally reinforced and elastic material can be a separate piece of elastic sown inside or outside the cuff of a sock but below the top edge. Suitable elastic material with openings having sufficient strength and elasticity to fit around a button when expanded but strong enough to keep the socks together during laundering when relaxed is sold commercially as button hole elastic, commonly used as a belt in children's clothing as belting material. A locally reinforced and elasticized opening such as present in such button hole elastic is a principal feature of the present invention that resists separation of the socks more securely during laundering or storing than ordinary button holes and yet is not unsightly or annoying to the user of the socks. When the opening is incorporated in a patch attached to the outside surface of a sock it can also provide space for a decorative identifying trade name. The button on one sock can also provide a surface for a trade name, especially when the opening is woven into or located in a patch attached to inside surface of the other sock of a pair of socks.

In another embodiment the reinforced elastic opening can be machined into the cuff of a sock. Although some socks have elasticized cuffs that are elastic enough to keep the socks up on the wearer's calf, that degree of elasticity is not enough to hold the socks together during the harsh conditions present during repeated laundering. Reinforcement is necessary to withstand the repeated washing. Elasticity of the opening should be limited to the locality of the opening itself to avoid increasing the overall pressure the cuff imparts to the leg of the wearer, easily accomplished with modern programmed machinery. The degree of elasticity machined into a cuff should be equal to that present in the above described belting elastic commonly sold under the name “button hole elastic”.

The means for attaching a button to of one sock can be accomplished with needle and thread, the thread being of sufficient strength to prevent separation of the button during repeated laundering.

Further reduction of stress on the socks is achieved by elastic reinforcement of the sock where the button is attached using modern programmed manufacturing machinery. Even further reduction of stress can be achieved by using a more flexible button than the hard button normally found on clothing. A rubber or plastic button can provide such elasticity. Locally reinforced elasticity on both socks in a pair is a material feature of the present invention.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a pair of socks with a patch sewn on one sock and a button attached to the other sock.

FIG. 2 shows a sock with a locally reinforced elasticized opening machined into the cuff of the sock.

List of Reference Numerals

-   1 First sock -   2 Second sock -   3 Elastic Patch -   4 a, 4 b Sewn edges -   5 Elasticized opening -   6 Button -   7a,7 b Cuffs of socks

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an elasticized patch 3 with an elasticized opening or button hole 5 sewn onto the surface of the cuff of the first sock 1 in a pair of socks. The patch 3 is preferably but not necessarily rectangular in shape and can be located on the outside or inside surface (the latter not shown) near the top edge of the sock 1. The patch 3 is preferably sewn along its two vertical sides 4 a,4 b, i.e. perpendicular to the top edge of the sock 1, in thread that is compatible with the material used to make the sock 1 and strong enough to stay attached during laundering. The size and shape of the patch 3 or the manner by which it is attached is not critical as long as the patch 3 is firmly attached and the button hole 5 is readily accessible to receive a button 6 attached in a comparable position in the other sock 2 in the same pair. The size of the elasticized opening 5 can vary with the size of the button 6, being smaller than the button 6 when relaxed and larger than the button 6 when expanded to receive the button 6. The degree of elasticity should be great enough to receive the button initially and yet strong enough to hold the button 6 in the opening 5 during laundering.

Elasticized material suitable for use as a patch 3 containing an elasticized button hole 5 is available from Imperial Threads, Inc. of Northbrook, Ill. As presently sold it comes in long ¾ inch wide pieces with button holes spaced one inch apart throughout the entire length of the pieces. It is used as belting material, especially for children's clothing with adjustable waist bands, allowing the user to use the button hole matching the user's waist size. Since children grow fast it permits the user to continue to use clothing throughout a significant period of a child's growth. A one inch long piece of this material with a button hole centered in the piece with fray resistant edges sewn along the edges onto a sock can provide a suitable patch 3 for use in a product of the present invention. Hot cutting is one way to resist unraveling of the cut edges. Embroidering the cut edges can resist unraveling even further. The cut edges can be turned over, stitched, serged or zigzagged to prevent the elastic from unraveling. Having sufficient elasticity to hold a button in place when used as a belt, the button hole in this material is adequate to hold socks together during laundering or storage, thus providing a locally reinforced and elasticized opening 5 for the button 6. The piece 3 can be machine sewn along its cut edges 4 a,4 b on the inside or outside surface of a sock 1.

The button 6 can simply be sewn directly onto the second sock 2 in a pair. Most preferably the button is sewn onto a locally reinforced elasticized portion of the sock and is positioned to match the location of the elasticized opening 5 in the first sock 1. Elastic backing (not shown) can be used to reinforce the sewn button 6 depending on the type of material used to make the sock 1 but a locally elasticized site for attachment of the button is preferred and accomplished using modern programmed manufacturing machinery when producing the sock. Even more preferably the button is itself made from elasticized rubber, plastic or silicone. Overall elasticity is a preferred feature of the present invention.

Prototypes of the foregoing embodiment employing a patch even without a reinforced site for the button have been washed many times in commercially available home washing machines, both top loading with a centrally located agitator and front loading, without separating or stressing the socks or damaging the combination of the button and elasticized opening. The locally reinforced and elasticized opening itself reduces substantially the stress imparted to socks while keeping the socks together when compared to the use of button holes that are not locally reinforced and elasticized.

Alternatively the locally reinforced and elasticized opening 5 intended for use as a button hole for the product of the present invention can be woven directly into a sock near the top edge or cuff 7 b of the sock as shown in FIG. 2. Although socks are commonly produced with elastic cuffs 7 a,7 b, it is necessary, using commonly available factory machinery, to reinforce the elasticity where the button hole is located. Where cuffs 7 a,7 b are present the button on one sock is located opposite the button hole in the other sock. This embodiment requires participation in the process of manufacturing the socks while the patch embodiment permits attachment to socks that are separately manufactured.

Especially to the extent they are visible, the patch 3, the button hole 5 and/or the button 6 can also be used for decorative, branding or identification purposes.

The foregoing can be accomplished using manufacturing procedures well know to those employed in the clothing manufacturing arts.

The method of the present invention comprises programming manufacturing equipment to produce the foregoing embodiments of individual socks, one with a button and other with a button hole.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been described above, they are merely illustrative of and not restrictive of the invention. Obvious variants will be apparent to those skilled in this art well within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination for keeping a pair of socks intact during repeated laundering or storage, each pair having a first member with a top edge and a second member with a top edge, the device comprising a. a locally reinforced and elasticized opening near the top edge of the first member and b. a button attached near the top edge of the second member wherein the locally reinforced and elasticized opening when relaxed is substantially smaller than the button but large enough when expanded to allow the button to pass through the opening and small enough when relaxed to secure the button in the opening.
 2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising the button is attached to locally reinforced elastic portion of the second member.
 3. The combination of claim 1 further comprising the locally reinforced and elasticized opening is a. centrally located in a piece of elastic material sown just below the top edge of the first member and b. possesses elasticity about equal to that possessed by elastic belting material.
 4. The combination of claim 3 further comprising the first and second members have an inside surface and an outside surface and the piece of elastic material is sewn on the outside surface just below the top edge of the first member.
 5. The combination of claim 3 further comprising the first and second members have an inside surface and an outside surface and the piece of elastic material is sewn on the inside surface just below the edge of the first member.
 6. The combination of claim 1 further comprising the first and second members have cuffs and the locally reinforced and elasticized opening is woven into the cuff of the first member during production of the first member.
 7. The combination of claim 1 further comprising the button on the cuff of the second member is made of flexible material attached to a reinforced elastic portion of the cuff of the second member during production of the second member.
 8. The combination of claim 7 further comprising the button is made of elasticized rubber or plastic.
 9. A method for making a pair of socks having a first member and a second member, each member having a top edge, the method comprising the step of programming manufacturing machinery for making a pair of socks to a. produce an elastic button hole near the top edge of the first member and b. attach a button near the top edge of the second member opposite the button hole wherein the button is sized to be press fitted into the button hole and a portion of the members where the button hole and the button are located has greater elasticity than the remainder of the pair of socks. 